THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Less is heard about trains these days, particularly since the homegoing of Johnny Cash. He always loved train songs. Accounts of a single railroad car are even rarer, despite the jump start provided in 1930 by “The Little Engine That Could,” a children’s book. This piece about Christmas centers on a single 1950-model

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The intent of this piece is to provide comfort to folks who are hearing more than they want to hear. There is much noise in the world, some of it pushing Christmas carols–and other worthwhile sounds–to the side of the road. In spouses’ conversations–whether interest in what the other is saying is sincere or

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Not until his later years did Rev. Jerry Neill have the time needed to hone his woodcarving skills, but when he did, he was relentless, turning out small art objects that soon cluttered his workshop. For about six decades, he and his wife, Judy, were immersed in Christian service, him centering primary efforts on

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury My ancient Uncle Mort–with razor-sharp memory of the long ago but dullard-like on yesterday–has a mind recently clouded with “what if’s” concerning the World Cup. This is surprising, since he doesn’t know a soccer ball from Cinderella’s ball. He barely knows that World Cup has “kicked off” in Qatar. He’s apologetic for “punning along”

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Spinning tops flung long ago finally stopped, they were like the season’s final flailing of turkeys soon to be main courses on Thanksgiving tables. For some journalists, however, minds continue to spin–conjuring, probing, marveling and expressing–thoughts about life, sometimes exceeding sublime or falling short of ridiculous. Such is the mind of my friend Glenn

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury My dear old dad, who absented his earthly life three decades ago, loved good jokes–both the hearing and the telling–with a slight leaning toward the latter. He shared them on workdays with his co-workers and at gatherings of kinfolk. At home, he knew that my mom and brother would hear them willingly and laugh

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury  Jerks and others of assorted intellects were jolted by a recent piece of news that is bound to reach front pages sooner than later. It’s one thing to consider the Energizer Bunny, hear commercials challenging us to “start something,” and marvel at the growing list of battery-powered mechanisms. Most of us may have self-inflicted

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Some quotes linger, often for no reason. They may stand alone, bringing up the rear when other thoughts are locked in–safe for the night–in literature’s OK Corral. Yet, they are “ear-catching,” hard to shake when minds are in neutral gear. Retired football coaching great Jimmie Keeling recently provided an eight-word pronouncement. It’s a quote

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The Great Depression is now remembered by a precious few, and foggily if that. Still, it remains a ready backdrop in conversations when accounts of deprivation abound. Born in 1937, I have memories back to the outbreak of World War II. I remember first-hand accounts of folks barely getting by during much of the